Word Origin & History

backdoor "devious, shady, illegal," 1640s, from back + door. The notion is of business done out of public view. The association with sodomy is at least from 19c.; also back-door man "a married woman's lover," black slang, early 20c.

Example Sentences for backdoor

The last Royalist defender of safe measures had vanished through the backdoor.

It was as though he had walked round the house of literature, and peeped in at the backdoor.

Early next morning, he tied up his clothes in his handkerchief, crept downstairs noiselessly and let himself out by the backdoor.

Instantly the backdoor assumed the chief position of interest.

When within a short distance of the old house a backdoor suddenly opened and fule-Tammy came out carrying a peat-keschie.

Kentuckians were left practically alone to defend the backdoor of the young Republic.

He went out by the backdoor into the garden, and saw how the sky was clouding up from the south-west.

Let us go with Mark Rothwell himself, as he leaves his house that very night, sneaking out at the backdoor like a felon.

The fire was built in the passage near the backdoor where I stood.

I had left of drinking of water from the year of '89 in America, but there was a well close by the backdoor.